Ancient burial site may stall Grand Parkway project

Updated 12:22 am, Saturday, October 13, 2012

The ancient burial site in the planned path of the Grand Parkway in west Harris County may be older and larger than previously believed, prompting new calls for a thorough scientific study of the area before the project moves forward.

Archaeologists have confirmed as many as 10 prehistoric burials, up from two known at the time when a state district judge allowed the Texas Department of Transportation to proceed with the project, a 15-mile, four-lane toll road that would be part of an outer beltway around greater Houston.

On Friday, Harris County asked a state district judge to reconsider a month-old order. First Assistant County Attorney Terry O'Rourke said former 234th District Judge Reece Rondon may have ruled differently if he had seen the new evidence.

"It took centuries to find these people, and we are asking for 100 days to study the site," said O'Rourke, who is representing the Harris County Historical Commission. "It is that simple."

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TxDOT and the Texas Attorney's General Office could not be reached for comment on Friday.

The state got Rondon's permission to remove any ancient remains after finding two burial sites near where the toll road would cross Cypress Creek, about three miles south of U.S. 290. TxDOT archaeologists estimated the bones to be 2,000 years old.

Two of the newly found burials may be from the time of the Paleoindians, who migrated across North America from Asia. It may be the only site with multiple burials from the period in the New World, Brown said in the county's filing for a new trial.

Brown also found fault with TxDOT's methods for removing remains, asserting that the agency's use of a mechanical sifter prevents scientists from determining where in the soil the bones were found. The depth is the primary way they can date burials.

O'Rourke said the historical commission does not want to prevent the construction of the $322 million beltway, but would like the state to provide a proper plan for discovery and recovery of the artifacts.

"It's not just the items that you put in a museum that are important," O'Rourke said. "It's also the layer where you find them."

Earlier archaeological surveys uncovered bison teeth, ceramic fragments and hunting darts in the proposed path of the parkway. TxDOT found no evidence of burials during planning.

Federal law requires TxDOT to evaluate any "cultural resources" that might be affected by the project before any work begins. The agency started construction in September 2011.